PAGO PAGO

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Pago Pago (pronounced Pango Pango) - what a breath of fresh air after five days at sea. Very mountainous and lush, with lovely friendly people. While it was high 20's temp here today, the cooling trade winds made it feel not so humid. We had a long walk around the main area - then decided to catch a local bus around the bays and over the top of the mountain around the national park, it was a lovely trip with gorgeous scenery and a great way to engage with all the locals who were so friendly on the bus. When we arrived at Vatia at the end of the bus line we took a walk around the cove and through the village and then caught a bus back to Pago Pago. There were churches on every corner - the missionaries did a very good job here - the people are very religious. The major employment is fishing - they have a huge tuna processing plant in Pago Pago. The area is very basic with no big shopping malls or Walmart etc which is a nice change BUT with a population of around 50,000 and 54 square miles the island of Tutulia, Pago Pago being the capital, there are two disgusting McDonalds (huge ones) - the size of a lot of the people it looks like they eat it for three meals a day!! (but it is obviously their genes). Pago Pago had a very relaxing feel about it and we thoroughly enjoyed our day here, sailing out at about 5.00p.m.

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Photos

ONCE A MAGNIFICENT HOTEL
Never rebuilt after tsunami

LOVELY COVES
Around the national park

OUR BUS
AIRCONDITIONED, BENCH SEATS!

GRAVES IN FRONT GARDEN
Always bury their relatives out front

Comments

[lee Eighteen]

morning
Good morning, it is only 0730, and just received your pago pago blog..sounds gorgeous...those Macdonalds should put you off for life !!!! aint civilisation great??!!! Today (1100 to 1630) my last shift at work, simon finished up yesterday and we are off to Hawaii (with the stress of staff travel, looks ok...) on Tuesday with jetstar. We are due to come home 03 september, arrive 0700ish on 4 september. plans are to stay home a day or 2 then off to singapore via brisbane...have promised simon some chilli mudcrab. We thought we may as well make the most of the house sitters, my sister Kim and her husband arrive today, and the neice and friend are still in residence...no beds left for us, we may have to come stay with you in the granny flat !!! CANT WAIT TO CATCH UP.... We are all off to golden harvest tonight, will miss you even more xxxx talk soon big kisses xxxxxxxxxxx

[kaz]

morn
hi guys pago pago looked beatiful so we now on down hill of your lovely holiday we going to the new pub for lunch today its a lovely 22 very sunny weather coming i went for a intense massage yesterday christ i feel like iv been punched all over have heard from lesley they seem to be enjoying their trip see yous soon xxx

[Lorri H]

Pago Pago
Hi Westbury's, good to hear you enjoyed American Samoa. We also found it a lovely place to visit. Bought some shoes there in 2006. In 2009 just before our last visit a tsunami came through from the other side of the island and destroyed the far end of the shopping area as well as the marina. The shops were running on huge generators the size of shipping containers. By the sound of it from your descriptions things have improved markedly. Loved the markets by the dock and also the very American black and white police cars there. Enjoy the rest of your voyage. Cheers Lorri H.

[anne]

wow nearly home
not long to go - are u 2 feeling sad having to come back to the cold weather for a WHOLE 2 weeks then off again to warmer Bali - luv to u both anne xxxx